Billionaire Romance--Plus Size Romance

by J. L. Ryan

After hearing the news, Liv broke down, and didn't think she would be able to function at work the next day. Of course, Chase told her that he didn't mean for it to happen, but when he met Chelsea, an instant connection was made. He didn't really want to divulge so much information about how he felt about Chelsea, but he felt that unless he "drove his point home," Liv wouldn't take him seriously.

  Liv was blindsided by the breakup. She tried to keep busy with work and going out with friends, but she couldn't shake the despair she felt. Although she was asked out on dates, she always declined.

  In Liv's eyes, nobody would ever hold a candle to Chase, and she had no desire to date anyone because she knew it would never progress into anything further. In the meantime, Chase and Chelsea were seen around town at various restaurants and social events.

  On one occasion, Liv caught a glimpse of the couple getting out of a cab. This almost pushed her over the edge, but she managed to hold onto her dignity. After three years passed, Liv's feelings for Chase were still as intense as they were when they first started dated. Chase's feelings for Liv, on the other hand, were almost non-existent. Sure he had fond memories of their time together, but never really felt as though Liv was his soul mate.

  Liv eventually started seeing a counselor because she was not bouncing back from the breakup. Her sleep pattern was disrupted, her diet was poor, and she stopped socializing altogether. The only social stimulation she got was when she went to work, and even there, her social interactions were severely limited.

  The counselor was worried for his patient's safety, and feared that she was spiraling into a deep, dark depression. Liv was eventually referred to a psychiatrist, who adjusted her medication and sent her on her way. When the medication kicked in after a few weeks, Liv's mood brightened, and she started considering dating again.

  Liv met a nice guy at the gym, and when he asked her out for coffee, she felt flattered. Like Chase, Jason was older, distinguished and well-educated. Their coffee date was pleasant, but according to Liv, there was no spark.

  When Jason asked her out for dinner, Liv hesitated, but decided to give him another chance. She was very critical of other men, but hoped that she would once again, find love. Jason took Liv to dinner and a play, and as the date was coming to a close, Jason leaned in for a kiss.

  Liv had no intentions of kissing him, and in fact, she had no intentions of ever seeing him again. All she could think about was Chase. Three years have passed, and still, her love was as strong as ever. Liv's co-workers were worried about her, and when she had too much to drink one night and drunk dialed Chase, they really became concerned. Fortunately she hung up before he answered the phone, but her number showed up on his caller ID.

  Chase was curious to find out what Liv wanted. His relationship with Chelsea was starting to cool, and lately, he started thinking about how much Liv loved him when they were together. He hesitated at first, but after a couple days, Chase returned Liv's call.

  You could have knocked her over with a feather when she saw Chase's number come up on her caller ID. She was shaking as she answered the phone, and as soon as she heard his voice, she broke down sobbing.

  Something stirred in Chase's heart, because he too, felt tears welling up in his eyes. Their phone call was brief, and in fact, it lasted only seconds, because Chelsea walked into the room just as Liv answered. Chase took this as a sign.

  Liv knew that Chase still felt a connection to her. She quickly put that phone call out of her mind, and tried to focus on her job. She went on a few more dates, and much to her surprise, Liv found a guy with whom she clicked with.

  Her friend introduced her to an accountant who was from the same town that Liv was from. In fact, they lived within a few blocks of each other when they were teenagers, but they went to different schools. He went to a private, all-boys school, and Liv went to a public school.

  At first, the relationship progressed slowly, but after a few months, Liv started developing strong feelings for her new friend, whose name was Ben. He took Liv to meet his family in Florida, and they absolutely loved her. Unlike Chase's mother, Vera, Ben's mother, Patty, felt that they were the perfect couple.

  As their relationship grew stronger, Liv's feelings for Chase were becoming distant memories. In fact, days went by where she didn't even think about Chase at all. Chase, on the other hand, couldn't get Liv out of his mind. His relationship with Chelsea was hanging by a thread, and he yearned for the relationship he once shared with Liv.

  He was starting to realize that breaking up with her was a mistake, and he hoped that she was not involved with another man. Chase finally raised enough courage to call Liv back, and when she answered, his heart stopped. He almost hung up, but was able to whisper out a weak, "Hi Liv, how are you?" Liv was gracious and warm, and replied, "Hi, Chase, it's nice to hear from you."

  The conversation was strained and awkward, but in Chase's mind, the ice had been broken. He was certain that he could get back into Liv's good graces once again, so that they could pick up where they left off. Their conversation consisted solely of small talk, and neither one asked about the other's personal life.

  Liv almost felt sick to her stomach when she heard Chase's voice, because it brought back the painful memories of their breakup. She was grateful that she had Ben, because he filled the void that Chase left. When she told Ben that Chase called, he became suspicious. Why would Chase call Liv after three years apart? Did Liv initiate the first call, he wondered? Liv finally confessed to Ben that she did, indeed, "drunk dial" Chase days before.

  It seemed that now, the tables were turned. Chase was the one who was pining away for Liv, while Liv, on the other hand, was blissfully "in like" with someone else. It never occurred to Chase that Liv would move on and start a new life with someone else. He also felt that Liv was his "ace in the hole," in case his relationship with Chelsea didn't work out. Would he and Liv ever reconcile, he wondered?

  Even though Liv was happy with Ben, she couldn't get Chase out of her mind, and wanted to connect with him again, just to find out more about his relationship status with Chelsea.

  Liv felt a twinge of guilt for thinking about calling Chase because Ben had been so good to her. She didn't want to be shady or go behind his back, so she talked to him about her intentions.

  Liv felt that she needed to get Chase out of her system once and for all before she would be able to move forward with her relationship with Ben. A total commitment to Ben was out of the question, in Liv's mind, unless she was completely over Chase.

  Ben agreed that Liv needed to get Chase out of her system before they could take the next step in their relationship, so he encouraged Liv to make the phone call. Feeling better now that she confessed her feelings to Ben about Chase, Liv picked up her phone and dialed Chase's number.

  He answered on the first ring, and couldn't believe his good fortune that Liv was calling him. "I want to see you," Liv said, as soon as Chase answered the phone.

  Chase was shocked, but elated. By this time, he and Chelsea were barely speaking, and she was spending more and more time away from the apartment that they shared since the beginning of their relationship.

  Liv and Chase planned to go out for dinner so that could talk. Both were excited, anxious, but uncertain about a future together. When Liv saw Chase for the first time in three years, she was surprised that her heart wasn't racing, and that she did not have butterflies in her stomach.

  Although it was nice to see Chase, that intense spark of passion and love was not there. Chase, on the other hand, could barely contain his emotions, and started to cry when they hugged.

  He apologized to Liv for hurting her, but she was unfazed. The cold and uncaring manner in which he "dumped" Liv always bothered Chase, but he never had the opportunity to tell Liv how he felt. They talked about Chase's relationship with Chelsea, and how it started out so intensely, but then, over time, seemed to have burned itself out.

  Liv listened quietly as Chase spoke about how Chelsea was a
workaholic, and how she never cooked a meal for him in three years. Not only didn't she cook, she never cleaned either. Chase finally hired a cleaning service to come in twice a month to tidy up, but he wished that Chelsea was a little more domesticated.

  She wasn't into the "housewife" thing, and she certainly didn't have any maternal instincts either. Liv couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction while Chase was droning on about his faltering relationship with Chelsea. Chase was the type of guy who enjoyed home-cooked meals, who liked a clean home, and who wanted to start a family someday.

  Liv wanted to start a family too, but it was becoming more apparent to Liv, that instead of wanting to start a family with Chase, she wanted to start one with Ben. Throughout the entire dinner, Chase talked about himself and his relationship with Chelsea. He didn't ask Liv what was going on in her life until it was almost time for them to leave.

  Chase was certain that Liv had been waiting around for him to come back all this time, and was profoundly disappointed when Liv told him that she had met someone else. What made Chase feel even worse was when Liv told him that she was falling in love with Ben. Chase asked, "how could you have fallen out of love with me?" Liv replied, "It took a long time, but I finally found someone who appreciates me, embraces me for who I am, and whose family loves me." On one hand, Chase was happy for Liv, but on the other hand, he was jealous, hurt and angry.

  How could he have let Liv go? He knew what a great woman she was, but he let his mother's silly opinion of Liv get in the way. Chase now realizes that Liv was the "one that got away," and his hopes of finding his one true love have been dashed.

  As their dinner date was ending, Chase felt that he had lost Liv forever. He decided to swallow his pride and beg Liv for another chance. He realized the error of his ways, and vowed that if she would give him another chance, he would do everything in his power to make her the happiest women alive.

  Although tempting, Liv gently declined. Her feelings for Chase had changed, and she knew that she would never be able to love him like she once had. Chase wouldn't let up on his request for another chance, and Liv, who kept politely turning him down, was getting increasingly aggravated by his persistence. Liv once thought that the sun rose and set on Chase, but now, she was beginning to see his true colors emerge.

  Chase had always been on the arrogant side, and was accustomed to getting his way all the time. He was spoiled as a child, and always seemed to have the upper hand when it came to relationships. If he didn't get what he wanted, he became pushy, overbearing and selfish.

  Chase was sure that if he kissed Liv, that old spark would re-ignite in her soul. Not only did Liv turn away from Chase's attempt at a kiss, she was repelled by it. He no longer had the same effect on her, and in fact, she wished that she could have snapped her fingers to bring her back home to Ben. She felt safe with Ben because he was so genuine and kind. There was not an arrogant or selfish bone in his body.

  Liv always lived on the edge with Chase, and always questioned his feelings for her. She knows that Ben is in love with her, and only her. He is not on the lookout for someone better, or for someone who is on the same level as he is educationally. Even though Liv doesn't have a college education, she is extremely bright, quick witted, wise and perceptive. Qualities that Chase never saw in her.

  He criticized Liv because of the way she spoke and because she never attended college. He wanted to pay for her college education so that she could "better herself," however, Liv believes that he only wanted her to go to college because he was concerned that she wasn't "scholarly" enough, and that it didn't look good for him to be with an "uneducated" woman.

  Just to make sure that Chase was completely out of her system, Liv relented and kissed him. The kiss soon became more intense, and Liv could sense that Chase was getting overly enthusiastic. Since she wasn't feeling the same way, she retreated. She now knew, for sure, that Chase wasn't the man for her. When she kissed Ben, passion stirs inside her, but when she kissed Chase, she felt nothing.

  Although Liv felt guilty about kissing Chase, because she knew it would hurt Ben, she just had to know for sure if the excitement, love and passion were still there. They were for Chase, but not for Liv. It was then and there, that she decided to say good-bye, once and for all. Liv would never turn back, and would finally close that chapter in her life.

  After a year had gone by, Liv and Ben started planning their wedding. They were now totally committed to each other, and were living together. Liv quit her job as a hair stylist, and was now working for Ben. This allowed them to spend all day together, which they cherished. Some couples enjoy the time they spend away from each other while they are both at their respective jobs, but for Liv and Ben, working together in the same office works well for them. In addition to being soul mates, they are best friends, and can let their respective guards down when they are together. Although Ben is technically Liv's boss, he never plays that card. He is also careful to never show favoritism to Liv in front of his other employees. He treats everyone with respect, and no one is treated better than anyone else. Many of Ben's employees have been with his for years, which is a true testament to his character. Liv is proud to be his life partner, both personally and professionally.

  Liv was getting excited for her wedding, and before the big day, members of her bridal party gave her a bachelorette party. Liv almost forgot what it was like to have a good time with her friends, because the last time they all went out together, Liv was in a funk over Chase. She is grateful that her friends saw her through her ordeal, and is honored to have them be a part of her wedding day. The celebration started off at a neighborhood bar where the ladies indulged in a few tropical drinks, then it was off to Liv's favorite restaurant. The night was exciting and fun, and Liv couldn't remember when she had such a fun time with her friends. The merriment came to a screeching halt in the blink of an eye, however. While the ladies were enjoying their dinner and each other's company, a familiar figure walked through the door. It was none other than Chase. He was accompanied by an older woman, who Liv later recognized as his mother, Vera. The two looked solemn as they were seated at their table, and barely spoke to one another while they dined.

  Chase and his mother hadn't yet noticed that Liv was at the restaurant, and Liv wanted it to stay that way. She didn't want anything casting a pall over her special evening, but when she had to go to the bathroom, she wondered how she'd sneak past their table without her cover being blown. After thinking about it, she realized that she didn't care if they saw her or not. She didn't owe either one of them anything and didn't even feel obligated to greet them. Liv and her entourage made a beeline for the bathroom, but not before Chase's mother noticed them. "Isn't that Liv?" she asked.

  Chase was stunned and took this as another opportunity to try and win her back. It's fate, he thought. Yes, it was fate, but not in the way that Chase had hoped for. He stalked the bathroom door and waiting for Liv to come out. When she did, he greeted her with a hug. Liv tried to be personable, but again, she couldn't hide her disdain for Chase.

  Liv and Chase ended up having a brief conversation. Liv was more than happy to tell Chase about her impending nuptials to Ben. She then learned why Chase and his mother looked so stone-faced when they walked into the restaurant.

  It turned out that Chase was the one who was now battling severe depression ever since Liv didn't return his affections the last time they had dinner together. In fact, his depression got so bad that he had to give up his law practice and move in with his mother.

  This was the first night he had been out in public in months. His relationship with Chelsea had long since fell apart, and he was having a hard time re-building his life. Liv felt bad for Chase, and now wondered if his mother felt any remorse for sticking her nose in their business by setting him up with Chelsea.

  Liv and Ben were married in a beautiful ceremony, and now have an adorable baby girl. Chase is still living with his mother, and has let his law license expire. He did get
a job working as a handyman in the neighborhood, however, and Liv has since shown pity on him and hired him to install a white picket fence around her and Ben's sprawling new home.

  Second Chance Romance

  Ruthless pig Justin dumped devoted Jodi after he hooked up with a younger, more attractive woman. While Jodi tried moving on with her life, she couldn't shake the paralyzing depression she felt.

  She craved Justin's love more then ever, even though it had been three years since he left her. She begged him to take her back but this only turned him off more.

  Jodi met charismatic Justin when he came into the hair salon where she worked. She fell in love with him at first sight even though she found him arrogant, cocky and brazen. Everything about him was thrilling to her. He was a champion polo player who belonged to an exclusive country club and he traveled all over the world.

  Jodi grew up poor, and while she did well in high school, she was unable to attend college because of financial constraints and responsibilities at home. After her father got fired from his job, Jodi had to work full-time to help pay the bills.

  Justin was 12 years older than Jodi, although he acted much younger. She found his friends to be boring, stodgy, and arrogant. Despite her disdain for his friends, she quickly fell in love with him. He treated her like a queen, and even offered to pay for her to go back to college. At first, they were blissfully happy.

  The couple soon settled into a mundane dating routine, and although Jodi was still jubilant about their relationship, she sensed that Justin was becoming restless and bored with her. He seemed irritated and distant, and even stopped coming home after work. When he began hurling cruel comments to her, she felt hopeless and vulnerable.

  Most of Justin's family members liked Jodi but his mother never warmed up to her. She never thought that Jodi was good enough for her son, but remained cordial to her.

  Justin's mother, Caroline, on more than one occasion, tried introducing her son to various women. These women were all professionals, and a few were lawyers, just like her son.